Target baseball game



Nov. 3, 1953 R. BURRELL 2,657,931

TARGET BASALL GAME Filed March 29, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet l N fzazi,

Nov. 3, 1953 R. BURRELL 2,657,931

TARGET BASEBALL GAME Filed March 29, 1951 Sheets-Sheet 2 4a l 4 w @e 062%@ 7 nur Nov. 3, 1953 R. BURRELL I 2,657,931

TARGET BASEBALL GAME Filed March 29, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 /m/ew/o/f Rober! Barre Patented Nov. 3, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,657.931 TARGET BASEBALL GAME Robert Burrell, West Haven, Conn. Application 'March 29, 1951,'seri'a1'No. natal "2 Claims. (o1. zvloaa) 'I 'his invention relates to the game of baseball in general, and to target baseball games in particular.

It isa primary object of thepresent invention to provide a baseball game which, While oiering considerable amusement to a rplayer or to players of opposing teams, Will also require for the successful execution o-f a desired play considerable skill on the part of any player commensurate with that of a pitcherin actual baseball, thereby to render the instant game especially adapted for training pur-poses insofar as .pitchinga baseball is concerned.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a baseball game of this type with facilities for playing the game to a large extent in simulation of an actual baseball game and in accordance with the pet strategy of each player, although the success of each play depends on the pitching skill of the player selecting it.

-A 4further object of the present invention is to provide a baseball game of this type with a target which is divided into marked elds that represent various favorable rand unfavorable plays lin regulation baseball of which any favorable playeld may be selected by a player and aimed at in pitching a baseballin an effort to hit theselected play-held and thereby score the particular play, unless the pitchedball goes Wild and hits another play-eld which may or may not be favorable to the player. y

Another object of the present invention` is to provide a baseball game of this type'with a target of which each play-eld area is plane throughout for the reboundof a pitched baseball therefrom, and is also more or less resilient so as to utilize the momentary yielding of the eldunder its impact with a pitched ball for the ultimate purpose of recording the particular play scored with the baseball. Y

It is afurther object of the present invention to provide a baseball game of this type with a play indicator Qrrecorder which is a replica of the fielddivided target, and ofwhich any playmarked field corresponding to a target field struck With a pitched baseball will be illuminated for a suliicient llength of time to afford the player or Aplayers the opportunity to note the scored play Without giving rise to any dispute over the latter. l

It is another object of the present invention to provide for each play-indicating field of the recorder an illuminating electric light bulb and a circuit therefor which `includes a control switch located behind the corresponding target field and momentarily closed when 'the latter yields on its impact with a pitched baseball,

-Another object of the present invention is to provide the instant game with an alley at one end of which is the erect target and at the other end of which is an imitation pitchers box into which each player has to step in order to pitch a baseball toward the target at the regulation distance between the pitchers and batters boxes in real baseball.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a target which, While having its marked play-elds clearly discernible from the pitchers box, nevertheless has a relatively small over-all area, thereby to compel a playe'rto pitch a baseball With substantially the same accuracy as an actual baseball pitcher in'orderto hit the target in or nearthe intended play-eld thereof.

It is 'another object of the present invention to provide the target at such a level as to compel a player to pitch a ball from much the same stance as that usually assumed by an actual baseball player when pitching a ball to the batter.

A further `object of the present invention is to construct the alley of the instant game as a chute in which baseballs rebounding from the target will return to the pith'eris box, yet to keep the alley so low that the same will not in any way obstruct a players vieiv of the relatively low target at any time While the player goes through thev fashionable motions of pitching a baseball.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a baseball game of this 'type which is of simple yet rugged construction, has an attractive appearance appealing to the baseballminded of all ages, may readily be installed in any convenient public or private place indoors or outdoors, and is readily accessible for the adjustment, repair or replacement of any operating parts thereof;

Other objects and advantages will appear to those skilled in the art from the following, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, in which certain modes of carrying out the present invention are Vshown `for illustrative purposes:

Fig'. 1 .is a perspective view of a baseball game embodying the present invention; n

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the game as viewed in the dvir'c'ctionof the arrow 2 in Fig. 1;

Figs.l 8 and 4 are sections taken substantially on the lines 3^-3 and 4'-4, respectively, of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section taken substantially on the une vii--sef Fig. 1, and showing a target of the gaine with a vprominent part thereof re1- m'ved;

Fig. 6 is enlarged section taken substantially 3 on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1, and showing the target complete;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevation of certain structure of the target of the game;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary section through the target as taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged section taken substantially on the line 9-8 of Fig. l;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary section similar to a part of that of Fig. 8, and showing a modification of the invention;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary section taken substantially on the line II-II of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a wiring diagram of certain playrecording equipment of the present game;

Fig. 13 is a partial wiring diagram of modied play-recording equipment of the present game, and

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary section similar to a part of the section of Fig. 8, and showing a further modication of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 thereof, the reference numeral I generally designates a target baseball game which essentially consists of a players stand A, an alley B, a baseball target C, and play-recording equipment D.

Players stand A Alley B As best shown in Fig. 1, the alley B while being constructed to serve as a return chute I6 to the players stand A for pitched baseballs that rebound from the target C, is nevertheless of a relatively loW over-all height so as to approach as nearly as possible the level condition of a baseball eld in front of the pitcher. In the present instance, a substantial length of the top surface I8 of the alley gradually inclines laterally toward one side of the alley in t-he fashion shown in Figs. 1 to 4, so that a baseball or baseballs rebounding from the target C will roll on said inclined top surface against a side board 26 and be guided by the latter toward and into a gutter 20 which extends to the players stand A. Provided at or near the front of the inclined top surface I8 of the alley is a transversely extending upright rail 24 which will direct into the gutter 20 any baseball that has not previously rolled down the inclined top surface I8 and along the side board 26 into the gutter. The gutter 20 may, as shown in Fig. 3, be provided by the concaved top 28 of a block 30. The top I8 of the alley may conveniently be made of plastic sheeting or plywood which may readily be formed into the irregular shape shown and suitably secured at spaced intervals to blocks therebeneath (not shown). For pleasant appearance as well as for reinforcement purposes, the alley is at the side opposite the board 26 preferably provided with another side board 32. The gutter 20 is continued alongside the players stand A as a baseball ramp 84. the gutter 20 gradually ascending at 36 to the level of the ramp 34 which a baseball will surmount when rolling under its own force through the chute I6 and the gutter 20. As usual, the ramp 34 is slightly inclined downwardly toward the rear, and is there provided with a stop lug 38 to prevent the baseballs b from rolling ofi the ramp. Since a home plate is symbolic of baseball, a simulation home plate 40 may be provided on the alley in front of the target C.

Target C As best shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 6, the instant target C comprises a plurality of fields 42 most of which are, in simulation of the infield in actual baseball, arranged within a diamond 44. The over-all shape of the target C is rectangular. though the most prominent parts of the target are marked oil within the diamond 44. The fields or areas 42 of the target are clearly marked, as by printing, with different characteristic plays in baseball. These plays may be marked Home run, Single, Doublef Triple, "Bunt safe on 1st, Fly out, Foul fly out, etc.; also S" for strike, B for ball, and F" for foul.

Regardless of where a pitched baseball hits the target, the ball is to rebound therefrom and be returned in the chute I6 and gutter 20 to the ramp 34. Further, it is one of the major aspects of the instant game to have the various play fields 42 of the target individually yleldable under the impact of a pitched baseball, and to utilize the yielding play field for recording the particular play scored on the recording equipment D to be described. Accordingly, the overall target area is plane, and the target is, in the present instance, formed by a more or less resilient sheet-like cover 46 over a plurality of pockets 48 in an upright target frame 50 (Figs. 5 and 8). The cover 46 may conveniently be clamped with its margins 52 to the forwardly extending head 54 of the frame 50 as at 53. The cover 46 is divided into the play-fields 42 by lines 56 which are imprinted or otherwise provided on the cover 46, and the latter is so attached to the target frame 58 that the fields 42 of the former line up with the pockets 48 in the latter. The pockets 48 in the target frame 50 are, in the present instance, provided by integral transverse ribs 58 (Figs. 5 and 8) against the forward ends of which the attached cover 46 bears. It may be preferable to interpose between the forward ends of the ribs 58 and the cover 46 any suitable shock-absorbing padding,

such as rubber, for instance. Accordingly, the pocket-forming ribs 58 of the frame 50 not only localize to a large extent the vibrations set up in any playing field 42 hit by a pitched baseball. but also rapidly dampen the vibrations in the hit playing field. Suitably mounted in front of the target C is a net cage 68 which is adapted to direct rebounding baseballs from the target into the return chute I6.

Instead of having a single sheet cover 46 over all the pockets 48 in the target frame 58 (Fig. 8). each pocket 48 may be provided with a separate cover 46 (Fig. 14) which may be spread over a rectangular frame 41 and suitably secured in the open front end of the pocket.

Play-recording equipment D Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown a play recorder 6I which may be provided in any suitably constructed upright housing 62 arranged, in this instance. adjacent the uleyers stand A, and preferably alongside the. bell. ramp 34. The housing 62 is provided with,` a Window Opening 54. for the display of a preferably translucent play-recording panel 66 which is legibly divided into play-fields 42' that are' arranged like the play-holds 42 ci the target C and marked, as by printing, with the same baseball plays ask the correspondingly arranged play-fields of the target C. Arranged in the housing |52 immediately behind the recorder pane 6.6 is a honeycomb-type frame F58 (Fig. 9) having pockets 'l0 which align with the various fields 42' on the pane 55.

The instant play-recording equipment further includes an upright frame 'l2 which is located. immediately behind the target frame 59 (FlesQ and 8) and mounted independently oi the latter so as not to be subjected to whatever Shock or vibration the target frame is subjected by virtue or the impact of a pitched baseball on the target thereon. frame 'l2 is, in the presont instance, provided with a plurality of forwardly extending lugs le which project into the various pockets 48, respectively, in the target frame 56, and carry preferably adjustable brackets le, respectively, each serving as a mounting for a normally open snap switch 18 of which the actuator arm il@ extends into close proximity to the resilient target C. Each bracket 'lt may, for its adiustabley mounting on the adjacent lug 'le of the frame l2, be provided with spaced bolts s2 which extend through an elongated slot 8d in said lug and receive wing-type nuts 56. In order that each switch 'le on the frame l2 may readily be accessible in the respective pocket 4Q in the target frame 5&3, the rear web Sl) of the frame adjacent each pocket fill in the target frame 5t provided with, an aperture 92 (Figs. 7 and 8).

The switch "8 in any pocket 43 in the target frame 5t is adapted to be closed momentarily by the adjacent target field 42 when the latter yields under the impact of a baseball pitched thereagainst by a player on the stand A. Associated with each switch 'lll is a light bulb 94 in the corresponding pocket 'lll in the recorder housing 52. To this end, there is provided in the recorder housing 52 a mounting board 96 (Fig. 9) for electric sockets si? which project into the respective pockets 'lll and receive the light bulbs in illuminating relation with the adjacent fields 42 on the translucent recorder pane Each switch le behind the target C is, as hereinafter described, in circuit with the associated light bulb lle in the recorder housing and is adapted to initiate, on momentary closure, the lighting or said bulb and, hence, the illumination of the corresponding iield 42' on the recorder panet, for a suliicient length of time to aioi'd the player or players the opportunity to note the scored play without giving rise to any dispute thereover.

The target C may be made of any suitable slightly resilient material such as certain treated animal skins, certain plastics, rubber with or without fabric reinforcement, etc. By way of example, a satisfactory target material has been found in calfskin of the type used for heads of percussion drums. rIhis skin, which is only slightly resilient, may be stretched in wetted condition over the target frame 50 and clamped or otherwise secured in place thereon while still wet, so that the skin becomes fairly taut after drying and will yield not very considerably even when hit by e very fast baseball. Thus, ln the where the tareet is made of this or o Similar kind oi animal skin. the switches 1% are preferably so adiustod on the frame l2. that their actuating arms4 80. are very neer the target, or actually' engage the latter as shown in Fie. 8.

Reference is now had. to the Wiring diagram, in Fig. 12 in which the circuits of the play-.- recordinglieht bulbs 94 and their associated switches 18 are illustrated. Inasmuch as the target C and the recorder pane G6 are each dvided, in the present instance into fty-throe elds, and there is a licht bulb 84 provided Lfor each eld the recorder pane 65, and since the circuits of all liebt bulbs 34 are identical. only one-half oi these circuits are shown irl Fie. 12 for the salse of brevity of the wiring dagrams, it boing understood that the wiring diagram as shown in Fig. l2 is to be duplicated on the other side of the dot-and-dash line ||l0 in order to show the circuits of all light bulbs 84.

Since the circuits of all light bulbs are identical, a detailed description of a single one of these circuits will suilice for an understanding of all circuits involved. Thus, the circuit of the bulb 94a (Fig. l2) includes the snap switch '18, a lead |32 which connects one pole of the switch 18 with one side |64 of an electric power line, a lead IGSv which connects the other pole of the switch '18 with the other side IEB of the electric power line. interposed in the lead |95 is the light bulb e4a. Branching from the lead lll' is a lead lill which is connected with the side |58 cf the electric power line, and in which is interposed a normally open holding switch |2 that. is under the control of a relay llll. The relay H4 is interposed a load H5 which branches-from the lead Hl! and is connected with a lead IEB Common to the relays H4 of the Circuits of all light bulbs 94. Branching from the lead H8 and connected with the side |98 of the-electric power line is a lead |23 in which is interposed, a timer-delay switch |22. The switch |22 is preferably of any of Several Woll known adjustable types to permit variation of the duration of each closure thereofl from the moment current passes therethrough, the switch |22 being in the present instance diagrammatioally illustrated as a thermostat-type switch. The snap Switch 'i3 and the leads |62 and |06 forni a starting circuit for the light bulb 94a which is momentarily closed on momentary closure of the switch 18. The lead im with the interposed relay-controlled switch H2 together With the lead |06 form a holding circuit for the light bulb 94d, said holding circuit being closed immediately on closure of the above-mentioned `starting circuit, and remaining closed until the circuit of the relay H4 is opened by the timedelay switch |22, as will be readily understood. Hence, the bulb 94a will, on momentary closure of the associated snap switch 18, become lighted, and will remain lighted for a period of time for which the delay switch |22 is adjusted..

Since the baseball plays denoted on the target C are those commonly occurring in actual baseball, the instant game may be played in much the same manner as actual baseball insofar as the plays are concerned. Thus, a group of players may agree on a nine inning game, and divide into opposing teams of which the players will alternate in pitching baseballs in the instant game. The rules of the instant game may be promulgated in accordance with actual baseball rules, such as three outs for one half of each inning, three strikes for an out, four balls for a Walk, a home run to sweep all occupied bases home, etc. In thus playing the instant game according to these rules, any team of players may use pet strategy in the course of the game in much the same manner in which a manager of a baseball team has the latter perform according to his pet strategy.

While in the baseball game hereinbefore described no provisions were made for a visual indication of a scored play on the target C itself, the modified game arrangement shown in Figs. 10 and 11 has provisions for the visual indication of a scored play directly on the target C in addition to its indication on the recorder pane 66. Thus, in the modified game arrangement of Figs. 10 and 1l, there is provided in each pocket 48 in the target frame C an electric light bulb |30 in a socket |32 on an extension |34 of the lug 14 that projects into said pocket 48. As shown in Fig. 13, each of the bulbs |30 is in series connection with the corresponding bulb 94 in the recorder housing E2 so that these bulbs are simultaneously lighted on closure of the corresponding snap switch 78'. Of course, the target C is, in this instance, made of translucent sheet material. By way of example, the hereinbefore-mentioned drum-head type of skin meets this requirement.

It follows from the preceding that the instant baseball game is not only highly amusing to a player or players and can be played in much the same manner as actual baseball insofar as rules and plays are concerned, but requires for the successful execution of a desired play considerable skill on the part of any player commensurate with that of a pitcher in actual baseball. Thus, by dimensioning the target of the instant game so that its marked play-fields are clearly discernible from the players stand, yet its over-all area. is nevertheless relatively small, a player is compelled to pitch a baseball with substantially the same accuracy as an actual baseball pitcher in order to hit the target in or near the intended play-field thereof. Further, in providing the target at a relatively low level, a player is compelled to pitch a baseball from much the same stance as that assumed by a player when pitching a ball to the batter in actual baseball. Hence, the instant game is especially adapted for training purposes insofar as pitching baseballs is concerned. Thus, besides being suitable for installation, indoors or outdoors, in public or private places for the amusement and training of the interested public in `general, the instant baseball game has specif'lc merit for training purposes in organized baseball, as well as for the amusement and exercise of military personnel in governmental establishments, including military hospitals.

The invention may be carried out in other speci'lc Ways than those herein set forth Without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention, and the present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

1. In a target baseball game, the combination of an upright target comprising a first upright frame provided with a. plurality of laterally adjacent pockets having open front ends, respectively, and opening in the respective rear ends thereof, and a resilient sheet cover of animal skin of the drumhead type over the open front end of each pocket, said covers being marked with differential baseball plays and yielding under the impact of baseballs pitched thereagainst; another frame located behind and mounted independently of said first frame out of impact transmission from the latter, said other frame having mountings adjacent said openings in said pockets, respectively, of said first frame; and play-recording means including electric instrumentalities on said mountings, respectively, extending into said pockets, respectively, into close proximity to said covers thereon, any of said instrumentalities being operated by the cover on the associated pocket when yielding under the impact of a pitched baseball to render said recording means operative.

2. The combination in a target baseball game as set forth in claim 1, in which said covers are formed by a continuous sheet of animal skin of the drumhead type bearing against said open front ends of said pockets in said rst frame.

ROBERT BURRELL.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 541,387 Rahmer June 18, 1895 1,018,409 Culp Feb. 27, 1912 1,523,747 Bradley Jan. 20, 1925 1,569,727 Donato Jan. 12, 1926 1,788,708 Degler Jan. 13, 1931 2,040,228 Whitely May 12, 1936 2,160,425 Thompson May 30, 1939 2,165,147 Moss July 4, 1939 2,285,782 Pharr June 9, 1942 2,362,513 Waldmann Nov. 14, 1944 2,523,773 Metzger Sept. 26, 1950 

